Exchange Student Handbook 2020/2021
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Exchange Student Handbook 2020/2021
1. EPITA
• About EPITA P.4
• Key Figures P.5
2. UNIVERSITY LIFE
• Academic System P.7
• French Higher Education P.8
• Grading System P.9
3. STUDYING AT EPITA
• Classes P.11
• Orientation & Buddy Program P.12
• Activities P.13
• Campus: Map & Facilities P.14
• Becoming a Student at EPITA P.15
• Enrollment P.16
4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
• Visa P.18
• Accommodation P.19
• Bank Account & Mobile Phone P.20
• Health P.21
• Working in France P.22
5. LIVING IN PARIS
• The arrival P.24
• Public Transports and Getting Around P.25
the City
• Budget P.26
• Going out & Night Life P.28
• Shopping for food P.30
• Travelling in France & Europe P.31
• Practical Information P.32
07/09/20 2 2
20
EPITA
ABOUT EPITA
Founded in 1984, EPITA is a bilingual Graduate School of Computer Science. Thanks to its
1. EPITA
unique pedagogical approach, EPITA trains its students to become outstanding engineers
who boast a solid base of scientific knowledge and the most advanced skills in the digital
sector. EPITA also welcomes a wide range of foreign students thanks to its several
international programs: bachelor, Master of Engineering, summer schools and French
language courses
EPITA is ranked among the top computer engineering schools in
France.
As one of the leading French science and engineering schools, EPITA is committed to
ensuring that all students have meaningful opportunities for personal growth and
professional achievement in the future.
“ The academic program for future
digital engineers is heavily focused
on science and technology, and
must rapidly include core values
such as environmental, societal,
entrepreneurial, ethic and human
responsibility.
The women and men who will work
with the new Internet of data, guide
the creation of artificial intelligence,
oversee new mobilities and
permanently help protect
cyberspace must be
complementary in their shared
vision of the future.”
Joël Courtois
Managing Director of EPITA
4
KEY FIGURES
1. EPITA
2 700 40
Students Students
Societies
10
Majors
7 700
Alumni
2 000
around the Partner
companies
world 6 000
Internship
offers each
100 %
Graduates
year
20 %
find a job Graduates
after 2 work
abroad
months 100 %
Career
Integration
5
UNIVERSITY LIFE
ACADEMIC SYSTEM
• Academic Calendar
2. UNIVERSITY LIFE
Dates are subject to change!
Academic Calendar
2020/2021 SEMESTRE 1 (FALL) SEMESTRE 2 (SPRING)
Starts on Ends on Starts on Ends on
Year 1 01/09/2020 08/01/2021 11/01/2021 04/06/2021
Year 2 01/09/2020 18/12/2020 04/01/2021 28/05/2021
Year 3 21/09/2020 12/02/2021 22/02/2021 09/07/2021
Year 4 Specializations (CS –DSA – 07/09/2020 12/02/2021 15/02/2021 16/07/2021
ISM-SE)
• ECTS system
ECTS is the European Credits Transfer System, the point system created by the European
Union in order to facilitate the transfer of students and their grades between European higher
education institutions by allowing national and local grading systems to be interchangeable.
A bachelor’s A master’s
1 ECTS credit
degree (3 years) degree (2 years)
= =
=
25-30 work 180 to 240 ECTS 120 ECTS
hours. credits credits
• Examples of ECTS equivalence
Canada, China,
India:
South Korea, Mexico:
1 local credit
USA: 1,6 local credit
=
1 local credit =
1,5 ECTS or
= 0, 625 ECTS
2ECTS
2 ECTS
7
FRENCH HIGHER EDUCATION
There are three types of higher education institutions in France: Universities, Grandes écoles,
2. UNIVERSITY LIFE
and Specialized schools.
Universities are public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to
any student who has obtained a baccalauréat or its foreign equivalent. University study leads
to degrees in many fields. Degrees are awarded at 3 different levels of achievement,
called cycles, within a framework referred to as licence, master, doctorat (LMD), which is
described in the following section.
The Grandes écoles are selective public and private institutions. They are like universities but
typically offer a more specialized 3-year course of study in subjects such as business, public
administration, or engineering. Students are admitted to the Grandes écoles based on their
scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained
a baccalauréat, and they often have taken a 2-year preparatory course (cours
préparatoires or prépas). Students graduate from a Grande école with a master's degree
(master).
Specialized schools are public or private institutions delivering Licence and Master’s degrees
that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social
work, or tourism.
• What is the LDM Framework?
The LMD framework is the result of the Bologna Process to harmonize university qualifications
in Europe. The French current system rests on the following principles :
The Master / Master’s Doctorat / PhD:
degree: Students holding
The Licence / Bachelor’s
After completing a a master recherche may
degree:
licence, students can complete an additional 3
A 3-year study program
apply for a master’s years' coursework to
or 6 semesters at
degree which is a 2-year qualify for
undergraduate level
study program or 4 a doctorat (PhD
semesters. equivalent).
8
GRADING SYSTEM
The grading system in France is on a scale of 0 to 20. Students must obtain at least 10/20 to
2. UNIVERSITY LIFE
be awarded ECTS credits.
• ECTS Grading Scale:
ECTS French Grade Definition
A 16/20 - 20/20 EXCELLENT Outstanding performance with no or only minor errors
B 14/20 - 16/20 VERY GOOD Above the average standard but with some errors
C 12/20 - 14/20 GOOD Generally sound work with a number of notable errors
D 10/20 - 12/20 SATISFACTORY Fair but with significant shortcomings
E 10/20 SUFFICIENT Performance meets the minimum criteria
FX 8/20 - 10/20 FAIL Some more work required before the credit can be
awarded
F 0/20 - 7/20 FAIL Considerable further work is required
• ECTS credits:
1 Semester 1 Academic year
30 ECTS credits 60 ECTS credits
At the end of each semester a transcript of record is established by the school and sent to the
students and the university. Each professor will inform on the evaluation and testing methods.
9
STUDYING AT EPITA
CLASSES
• Course Selection • Classes at EPITA
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
Students’ home universities will ask you EPITA offers classes taught both in
to fill out a learning agreement which French and English.
will clearly indicate the courses they
have selected and their ECTS credits. Students finalises their class selection
These will be the courses students will with the Incoming Student Officer upon
need to validate during their arrival. They have access to EPITA
semester/year at EPITA. online platform Chronos where they will
have access to the class schedules.
They will only have access to the
Students will, at first, select select
classes that are part of and will not be
courses via an internal platform to
able to select courses from other
which they will have access once
majors.
enrolled at EPITA. Students can
participate in the first class and decide Each student will have an average
then whether to continue or drop the workload of 25 hours per week and per
course. Once the learning agreement class. Students will have lectures and
approved by both the universities, no personal work to do.
change can be made.
Once you have made your selection,
attendance is mandatory. There is a
It will be your responsibility to attend all
specific attendance tool on which your
the courses you have selected and
presence will be notified and followed.
validate them. Teachers will give you all
Each absence must be justified by a
the details on the evaluation modes.
medical certificate or other certificate.
The syllabi of EPITA’s courses are on our website and can be sent by the incoming
mobility officer on demand. Or students can have access to the Sway document with
syllabi updated.
11ORIENTATION & BUDDY
PROGRAM
Before the beginning of each semester, an
• EPITA offers other
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
orientation session is organized to introduce
international students the team that will
accompany them throughout their
student support
semester/year at EPITA. They will meet their
Incoming Students Officer from the
services:
International Relations Department who will be
their main contact during their stay at EPITA.
All academic information and the practical
details of the semester will be explained, and a 40 Gym
campus tour is organized to help students find student Centre
the classrooms and the key areas. societies Pass
International students have the possibility to
be assigned a buddy who will accompany and
assist them during their experience at EPITA.
Campuses
Mental open 24/7
Having what we call
an EPIBUDDY is not Health with
mandatory but Support student ID
strongly card
recommended by
the International
Relations
Department of Computer
High
EPITA. The labs
Speed
EPIBUDDY contacts +
will be shared with
Internet
Research
international Line
Labs
students before their
arrival in France.
Online
platform French
for Language
incoming Center
students
12ACTIVITIES
Here is a sample of activities students can join during their stay at EPITA:
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
SPORT
EPISPORT
Campus sport student society offers a wide
range of individual and group physical CULTURE
activities. Enrolled students receive an official
EpiWorld
licence from the FFSU (French University
Sport Federation) Telephone & Internet
International student society welcoming
(contract per month)
newcomers and organising a great range of
AISM activities among which Paris visits, Cheese &
Wine testing and French movies projections
Aims at promoting motor sports among
Epitanime
students. Various events, held in France and
abroad, are offered for both beginners and
Promotes Japanese culture among students
advanced students
and throughout Europe. Main activities are:
Le Baby Karaoke, film projections, drawing, musical
video games)
Students share their passion of babyfoot and
organizes tournaments throughout the year
CHARITY
Episolidaire
ART
Ephemere Humanitarian & charity actions on campus
and in the surroundings (roam, collecting
Helps to develop students’ talent and passion necessities, fund-raising)
for Photography. The society is often present
to take the best clichés of EPITA events
Epink
Organizes events and animations that
promote the art of tattooing.
13CAMPUS: MAP & FACILITIES
• Kremlin-Bicêtre Campus • Facilities
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
Kremlin-Bicêtre campus - a
cafeteria is open on weekdays from
3. STUDYING A TEPITA 8:00 am to 6:00 pm where students
can enjoy a breakfast or a lunch.
There is a break area on the 6th
floor of the Voltaire building which
• Kremlin-Bicêtre Campus is mainly for international students
and students can also chill in an
open area in the center of the
campus. Soft drinks and snack
vending machines are also
available at various areas.
• Villejuif Campus
Villejuif campus - 15 min away from
Porte D'Italie, accessible by the
subway. The campus includes
classrooms, practical and research
• Villejuif Campus
labs, a fireplace, a cafeteria open
on weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00
pm, several multi-purpose
relaxation and work rooms, all in a
beautiful wooded park.
Wireless Internet Access everywhere with
the logins students receive at the arrival
All classrooms have a video projector and
high tech materials
14BECOMING A STUDENT AT
EPITA
• You can join the EPITA experience
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
in 3 different ways!
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
▪ Exchange Student
Students can apply as exchange students if their home university has an agreement with EPITA.
Students must contact their international office and ask for information on the process of application. The
international office will then nominate the selected candidates at EPITA and keep the students informed on
the process.
As exchange students, EPITA tuition fees will be waived and students will only have to pay for personal,
travelling and housing expenses.
▪ Study Abroad Student
Students from non-partner institutions can still apply if they are interested in studying at EPITA.
Students will need to pay EPITA tuition fees - €3,900 for 1 semester. A scholarship can be granted after
studying the application.
• Summer School Student
Each year EPITA organizes summer school programs to allow students to enjoy the vibrant city of Paris and
study in one of the Top Engineering schools in France in July.
15ENROLMENT
Once students have been accepted to do their studies at EPITA, they will need to follow
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
several steps:
3. STUDYING A TEPITA
Finding the International
Relations Office!
Students need to go see
the Incoming Students
Officer in the
International Relations Collecting the Student
Office in the Kremlin- Card!
Bicêtre Campus
Students need to give the
necessary documents to
the Incoming Student
Officer and collect their
student cards
Participating in the Orientation
day!
Students will need to attend
the orientation day held at the
beginning of each semester.
Finalising choices
This day will give to our
international students all the After the first classes of
key information about the each unit, student will
campus and the different have the opportunity to
courses confirm or change their
courses’ choices with the
Incoming Students Officer
16ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
VISA
All non-EU students coming to study in France need a student visa.
The type of visa depends on the length of students’ stay.
4. ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Administrative procedures to obtain a French visa can be very different and take time
depending on your home country.
• General Information • Work permit
The French diplomacy website gives general It is very difficult and long to obtain a work
information about student visas and the permits, but solutions exist. If students have
types of visas (Long-stay/ short-stay visa) a residence permit, they don’t need a work
permit if a job takes up less than 964
hours/year. Employers must inform the
We recommend students to contact the Préfecture beforehand. More details here.
French embassy in their Home country to
get more information about procedures.
To cover their expenses, many students do:
Visa procedures must be completed before your ❑ Baby sitting (€10 - €15 an hour)
arrival in France. ❑ Language classes (€10/hour or more if
you have some teaching experience or if
your language is rare)
• Residence permit ❑ Work in bars and Fast-food restaurants.
These jobs opportunities are found
Non-EU students coming to study need a networking, classified ads, specialised apps,
student visa AND a residence permit to stay flyers left in local stores or schools. The
more than 6 months. French Ministry of Education has a
dedicated website.
Within 2 months of your visa/temporary
residence permit expiry date, if you want to
stay on longer in France, you have to go to
the local préfecture (French local authority)
and apply for a renewable residence permit.
Useful links to help students in their process:
Campus France
Gouvernement Français – Visa
Office Français de L'Immigration et de
L'Intégration (OFII)
18ACCOMMODATION
Finding accommodation in the Île-de-France region can be very challenging, expensive and can
take some time. It is recommended that you plan much in advance. Every student is responsible
for finding their own accommodation.
4. ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURES
EPITA does not provide any campus accommodation. However, we offer housing and airport
transfer services for which you can request during your application process.
✓ Find a place: OPTION 1 ✓ Find a place: OPTION 2
Exchange students coming to EPITA have the Students can also find an accommodation by
possibility of arranging their accommodation themselves. However, they have to make sure
before they arrive: to look long before coming to Paris. It is
difficult to find a private accommodation for
• €125 booking fees, including airport pickup
foreign students and it can be expensive.
Students will live with other international
students in furnished accommodations with
Available websites:
bills included and within easy walking distance
from campus. • PAP (de particulier à particulier)
• La carte des colocs (finding flatmates)
• The rents range from €350 to €750, depending on
the type of accommodation.
Getting an Housing insurance! - Mandatory
Useful links:
Students must subscribe to a housing insurance no matter Studapart (code: EPITALOGEMENT)
where they are going to live. It will cover damages such as CIUP
robbery, fire or flood. Immojeune
19BANK ACCOUNT & MOBILE
PHONE
Students will need to open a bank account while staying in France.
EPITA has an agreement with BNPPARIBAS: International students can open their bank
account there.
4. ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Opening an account makes life easier when paying bills and subscriptions.
• Opening a bank • In case students lose their credit card or
account check book!
❑ Let the bank know so that it can block the
card. This is a 24/7 service that direct the
Students must have (at least) the following
call to the “centre d ’opposition”
three documents with them in order to open a
bank account:
❑ A report to the central police station is
❑ ID card or passport necessary if the card has been lost or
❑ Proof of address in France stolen. If this step is skipped, the insurance,
❑ An acceptance letter from EPITA or student that came with your credit card, will not
card. work.
You will be guided during the orientation day in
this procedure and all the details will be
provided. The bank account opening can be • Mobile Phone
done after your arrival in France.
Students can buy a chip mobile phone
It is important that students close their French bank when they arrive in France at a mobile
account before they leave
network carrier’s store (Orange, SFR,
Bouygues, etc.).
• Managing your account:
Students will need to choose a « forfait »
avoid overdrafts! (plan) – they need to be aware that most
plans have a 1 year commitment at least.
If students spend more than what they have
on their account, they might have to pay high
Here are the commitment- free plans:
overdraft fees or “agios” – If the bank’s
interest rate for agios is 17%, students may - SOSH
have to pay 17% more than what they owe - SFR (RED)
- Free
For example: if a student spend €100 without
having it on the account, this student will have Make sure to mention your specific needs for the
best deals.
to pay €117 to the bank. Students need to be
careful with their expenses
20HEALTH
Social security affiliation is free and obligatory for all students in France, whether they are
French of foreign nationals.
4. ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURES
• European Students • International Students
❑ Non-European students under 28 must sign
❑ European students usually have a
up to the social insurance system
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
or a temporary certificate.
❑ Students needs to sign up once registered at
EPITA
❑ The medical costs are reimbursed at
the same level as they would be in their ❑ The cost of this social insurance is around
home country. This card must be valid €215
until the end of the academic year.
❑ It reimburses medical expenses but not all
the expenses
❑ To increase your health insurance pay-out,
you can register for an additional health
cooperative (not mandatory but strongly
recommended)
❑ EU student without a European Health
Insurance Card (EHIC) need to do the same
Uaseful links:
Ameli for foreign students
CLEISS
Doctolib
Planning Familial
21WORKING IN FRANCE
International students at EPITA can work alongside their studies or participate in paid intern
missions for EPITA
4. ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURES
French law allows foreign students to work 964 hours a year, or the equivalent of 60% of the
legal working hours limit. Students can therefore only earn a partial salary. If you are not a
European Union citizen then you must have a student residence permit in order to work in
France.
Studying at EPITA can sometimes be a lot of work, so we do not advise foreign students to
work alongside their studies.
Students must request a work
permit in the following three It is highly recommended for students to have at
cases: least a B1-B2 level in French in order to
communicate with your employer and colleagues
❑ You must work more than the
authorized number of hours
❑ If you hold a temporary six-
month visa
❑ If you are an Algerian student
Working conditions and Law
Paid Intern missions at EPITA
From 1 January 2010, all employees in the
Internal activities, when they national workplace relations system receive 10
come out of what is normally basic minimum entitlements known as the National
expected from students, also give Employment Standards (NES). The NES include:
rise to paid missions. It is then
important to check EPITA website ❑ Maximum weekly hours of work
and stay tuned on EPITA ❑ Requests for flexible working arrangements
activities! ❑ Parental leave and related entitlements
❑ Annual leave
❑ Personal/carer’s leave, compassionate leave
and family and domestic violence leave
❑ Community service leave
Useful websites: ❑ Long service leave
www.jobaviz.fr ❑ Public holidays
www.cidj.com ❑ Notice of termination and redundancy pay
❑ Provision of a Fair Work Information
Statement.
22LIVING IN PARIS
THE ARRIVAL
Paris has 3 major airports: Orly (16 km south of the city centre), Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle
5. LIFE IN PARIS
(27km north of the city centre), and Beauvais (80km from Porte Maillot in Paris).
How to get around once you arrive at the airport?
• EPITA Service • RoissyBus & OrlyBus
EPITA transport & accommodation service You can also take shuttles from both
can provide a car that can pick you up. Charles de Gaulle and Orly airport. You
can ask at the information desk.
Approximate prices:
• Taxi
▪ From Charles de Gaulle to Opera:
Recognizing an official taxi
the bus will drop you in the center of
Taxis stand at the arrival gates and have Paris. You will need to buy another
luminous signs on the roof. If you are
ticket if you want to take the subway
approached by anyone claiming to be a taxi
after the ride.
driver at the exit of the baggage claim, we
suggest that you decline any of their offers of
transport. Departure from Roissy Charles de
Gaulle (Terminal 1 - Terminal 3 -
Terminal 2AC - Terminal 2D - Terminal
• Train or RER 2EF), arrival Opéra (corner rue Scribe &
rue Auber).
The RER line B serves Roissy Charles de €13,70
Gaulle in the north and Orly airport in the
south of Paris. ▪ From Orly airport to Denfert
Rochereau: the bus will drop you near
the subway station Denfert Rochereau.
RER B- Roissy Charles de Gaulle You will need to buy another ticket if
€10,30
you want to take the subway after the
RER B- Orly: Direction Antony and then take ride.
the Orlyval
€9,50
Departure from Orly (Terminal 1,
Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4)
€9,50
24PUBLIC TRANSPORTS AND
GETTING AROUND THE CITY
Getting around in Île-de-France and Paris is very easy.
5. LIFE IN PARIS
An extensive five-zone public transport network serves Paris and the Île-de-France region
and includes metro, bus, tram, regional express train (RER), and regional train (Transilien)
links. The RATP group is responsible for operating most public transport services in Paris
and the surrounding area. SNCF, the National Train Company operates all the trains from
express, to regional to national trains. Students can easily go from one side of the city to
the other using public transports
•The “imagine R Étudiant” subscription
Annual subscription aimed at students under 26 living in
the Île-de-France region for unlimited journeys around the
entire region (all zones: €350/year)
•The monthly “Navigo” subscription
Monthly subscription for unlimited journeys in all zones
(€75.20/ month)
Subway, bus and tramway: Students can easily go from one side of the city to the other
using public transports
€ 1,90 = 1ticket
•Subway •The bus
Fastest, cheapest, and most An excellent way to discover
simple way to get around in Paris. Bus lines in Paris for the
Paris. The metro network is most part run from Monday
made up of 16 lines and 300 until Friday from 6.00am until
stations across Paris and its 12.30am. Services may
suburbs. Services begin decrease on Sundays and
everyday around 5/45am and holidays depending on the line.
finish around 12.45am (from
Sunday to Thursday) and
1.45am (Friday and Saturday). • Noctilien
A bus service that mainly
operates during night-time.
•Tramway With roughly 47 lines, you can
Three of the 10 tram lines of Île- travel in Paris and the Île-de-
de-France: serve Paris: the T2,
France region between
T3a and T3b. Tram tickets are
12.30am and 5.30am.
the same as metro and RER
tickets within Paris.
25BUDGET
Living in Paris can sometime be very challenging and expensive.
5. LIFE IN PARIS
Students must be prepared before coming to France to live a unique experience and
discover things different from their home country.
This is an approximate guide of the living costs in Paris. These figures can easily change.
Acommodation Per month
Studio at CIUP €470-€700
Private studio € 800
Shared flat Food
€ 550
Shared room Meal at EPITA cafeteria €5.00
€ 490
Meal at Restaurant €15-€20
Electricity & Water € 50
Sandwich €4-€6
Coffee €1.00-€2.00
Transports
Baguette €1.20-€1.80
Monthly travel pass €75.20
Pastry €1.50-€3.00
Metro ticket €1.90
Glass of wine €4.00
Pack 10 metro tickets €14.90
Beer €3.50
On-board bus ticket €2.00
Student travel pass €28.5
Vélib’ €3.00
Sales tax & tips
In France, prices are shown TTC (all tax
included): Tips are optional.
26BUDGET
5. LIFE IN PARIS
Telephone & Internet (contract per month) Entertainement
Cinema ticket €8.00-€12.00
Mobile phone €15.00
Swimming Pool entrance €2.00-€3.50
Internet €20.00-€30.00
Exhibition entrance €6.00-€12.00
.
27GOING OUT & NIGHT LIFE
Paris is one of the world’s most popular tourist destination: vibrant, cosmopolitan and with
5. LIFE IN PARIS
an impressive cultural heritage. Ranked in the QS Best Student Cities in 2018, Paris was
selected as the 2nd best student city in Europe and the 5th best in the world.
All year round, students can enjoy cultural events, exhibitions, shows, festivals just to
name a few. In each arrondissement, you can discover secret passages, gardens from the
Quartier Latin to the Canal Saint Martin passing by Montmartre or cruising the river seine.
• Free Admission Under • Museums with Free
26 Admission
Access to permanent collections in museums
Many Other museums are free all year
and monuments in Paris and the Île de
France region is free for young people under long:
26 who come from one of the 28 European Air & Space Museum
Union member states (Louvre Museum,
Musée d’Orsay, Palace of Versailles, etc.). Musée du parfum Fragonard
There is also a discount for temporary .
exhibitions in most museums. The Shoah Memorial
The Curie Museum
• Example of parcs
• Gateway destinations in
Numerous Numbers of parcs (400 in Ile-de-France:
total):
Jardin du Luxembourg It exists many gateway destination within an
hour and a half’s reach outside Paris: Monet’s
Jardin des plantes
house in Giverny, le château de
Buttes-Chaumont Fontainebleau or even the Musée National de
la Renaissance…
Bois de Vincennes
Bois de Boulogne
.
28GOING OUT & NIGHT LIFE
5. LIFE IN PARIS
RESTAURANTS, CAFES & BARS
Paris is the place to be as night life is
exciting. Youngsters hang out until late hours
but make sure to always be in a group. It is
easy to find a place to either enjoy a
gastronomic dinner or just grab a bite after a
movie session. Quartier Latin is one of the
popular area for students.
MUSEUMS &
MONUMENTS
With more than 200 museums, Paris
has a rich art heritage: painting,
sculpture, photography,
contemporary art, and science but
also it is famous for its fashion & THEATRE
Haute Couture, architecture and Paris has a huge variety
food of theatre. You can find
. some very classical
plays of Molière,
Corneille to the latest
and modern ones. The
choice is endless and
caters to all ages and
tastes.
CINEMA
Paris has cinema halls in every arrondissement which offer a very
wide range of foreign films. All these cinemas offer international
films that are either subtitled or in their original version.
The Lost in Frenchlation society offers non-French films with
English subtitles in classic Parisian cinemas. Drinks and debates
are also part of these events.
Most cinemas offer reduced ticket for students under 26.
29SHOPPING FOR FOOD
EPITA has an ideal location and shopping for food is quite easy near the campus.
5. LIFE IN PARIS
Most shops are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.
Grocery store are usually closed on Sundays, and sometimes on Mondays. However,
during the holiday season (before Christmas), many shops stay open in the weekend.
Groceries (food stores) often open earlier in the morning and do not close until later at
night.
• Addresses near EPITA:
Corner shops: Hypermakets
Expensive, limited choice but handy Less expensive and bigger
Carrefour Market Lidl (Avenue Fontainebleau)
Franprix Auchan (In the shopping mall on avenue
Fontainebleau)
• Other options:
• Markets: local products - from fruit and vegetable to meat, cheese, sometimes even clothes
or jewellery...
Prices vary; products may be more cheap than in supermarkets and others much more
expensive.
Here is a list with all the information, including dates and hours :
http://kremlinbicetre.fr/content/le-march%C3%A9
• Frozen goods: there are frozen-food sections in several stores, but you can also head to
Picard which is specialized in Frozen food
30TRAVELLING IN FRANCE &
EUROPE
Paris is the heart of France and the Hub of Europe!
5. LIFE IN PARIS
Students can easily travel within France and in Europe.
Before planning trips outside France, students need to make sure that their visa allows
them to leave the country and come back
• By Train • By Plane
The SNCF (the French national railway Plane might be an easy and quick way to
company) manages the entire French train reach your destination but remains the most
network. Train is the simplest way to travel in expensive one too.
and around France for students.
It is very easy to travel by plane from Paris.
If you are under the age of 28, you can get You have access to 2 international airports:
discounts. ➢ Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG)
➢ Orly Airport
For all details about ticket reservations,
schedules, and discounts, look up the SNCF Both airports operate international flights and
website. SNCF also offers low-cost trains. . you just need to book your ticket and fly the
world.
Students can travel around France and
Europe from Paris in train. As an example,
they can go to:
• By Bus
Paris-Lille: 1h Eurolines is a low-cost coach travel company
Paris-Lyon: 2 h with over 600 destinations in France and
Paris-Strasbourg: 1h47 Europe and has discounts for people under
Paris-London: 3h 25
Paris-Brussels: 1h30.
Paris-Amsterdam: 2h19
• Driving
Non-European students need an international
driving license to drive. Procedures may vary
depending on your country. Check here.
31PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Paris can be full of surprises and students will need also to explore by themselves. Before that,
5. LIFE IN PARIS
here are some additional information.
• Sports
Students can practice sports in Parisian
parks for free. There is also a possibility for
students to join an indoor gym but a
subscription is required. • Weather
EPITA has a special offer for its students Paris experiences mostly
should they wish to join the Forest Hill Sport mild weather across four distinct
Centre: seasons. Average daily highs
€ 150/ year range from 46°F (8°C) in the
winter to 77°F (25°C) at the
Forest Hill is always ready to welcome you height of summer.
and your gym bag before or after your course
or internship. It is open from 7am to 10pm. Don’t forget an umbrella and/or a
You can practice your favourite sport thanks raincoat: even on a sunny day,
to the dozens of disciplines on offer or to there might be a few showers.
enjoy one of the 306 gym machines. You can Information on weather forecasts.
also relax in the famous water park unique in
Europe, or on the many tennis or squash .
court. The EPITA/Forest-Hill partnership
provides 7-day/7-day multi-activity access to
the Aquaboulevard. There is usually no air
conditioning in classrooms and in
accommodations when the
weather is warm.
32PRACTICAL INFORMATION
5. LIFE IN PARIS
Contacter les Relations Internationales
Email: international@epita.fr
Phone: +33 (0) 1 84 07 40 31
Website: EPITA
• Emergency Numbers: • Emergency medical
services:
18 - Pompiers – fire department: fire,
accidents and medical emergency. Poison centre in Paris: 01 40 05 48 48
SOS Médecins (24h/24h):
17 - Police emergency squad, police force. 08 20 33 24 24
Medical care Paris (24h/24h): 01 42 72 88 88
15 - SAMU: emergency medical services in
town. SOS Dental care: 01 43 37 51 00
Serious burn aid Hôpital Cochin: 01 58 41 26 49
115 - Samu social: in Paris - societal
welfare emergency medical services, support Late night chemist/duty pharmacy: 39 15
for the homeless.
SOS lost or stolen bank cards: 0 892 705 705
SOS lost or stolen checks: 0 892 683 208
33You can also read
